Whether you think they are cute, ugly or simply just plain weird, there is a good chance you have heard of the furry dolls that are the global phenomenon – Labubu. Born a monster, the elf-like being from the Chinese toy manufacturer Pop Mart has become a viral sensation.
And it’s no lack of celebrity supporters: Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian and Blackpink’s Lisa. The common man is equally besotted – in Shanghai and London, the lengths of the queues to buy the doll have made news, sometimes turning ugly with fighting even. Having such a sense of accomplishment when you manage to get it amidst such intense competition is something,” declares confessed fan Fiona Zhang.
The international intrigue surrounding Labubu has nearly doubled Pop Mart’s profits over the last year – and, in some accounts, even revitalized Chinese soft power, battered by the pandemic and a frayed relationship with the West.
It continues to vex many – and even those with the answer aren’t quite so sure they understand the phenomenon. Labubu is both a made-up name and a product. It’s not any real word. It’s the name of one of the characters in Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung’s “The Monsters” toy series.
The vinyl faces are paired with plush bodies and shipped with a signature appearance, featuring pointed ears, large eyes, and mischievous grins with precisely nine teeth. A puzzled yet conflicted internet can’t quite make up its mind whether they are charming or strange.
Labubu is “kind-hearted and always wants to help, but often accidentally does the opposite,” according to its official site at its retailer. Labubu dolls have turned up in a few series of “The Monsters”, including “Big into Energy”, “Have a Seat”, “Exciting Macaron” and “Fall in Wild”.
Labubu also has some other figures from its world, which have provided their best-selling dolls – like the leader of the tribe Zimomo, her boyfriend Tycoco and her friend Mokoko.
To an untrained observer, some of these dolls are difficult to differentiate from each other. The experts would recognize but Labubu’s popularity has undoubtedly rubbed off, with other members of the family flying out as well.
